32 
THE FERN WoilLD OF AUSTRALIA. 
pinnate. Spore-cases numerous, small, with a more or less oblique 
ring, in globular sori on the under surface of the segments or 
pinnules. 
XIV. — Cyathea. Smith. 
Tree Ferns, with large twice or thrice pinnate fronds (with 
regard to Austrahan species), the transverse veinlets of the 
pinnules or segments forked or divided, bearing a sorus on one of 
their branches, the sori arranged in a single row on each side 
of the mid-rib. Sori globular, enclosed when young in a mem- 
branous indusium which after bursting leaves a cup or complete ' 
ring under the sorus. Spore-cases numerous, sessile or nearly so 
on a shortly raised receptacle, each with a vertical or oblique ring. 
Name derived from the Greek alluding to the small cup-shaped 
indusium which surrounds the sorus. , 
^ C. Lindseyana, Hook. Caudex or trunk ten to twelve feet 
high, twelve inches in circumference. Stipes and rhachis unarmed, 
secondary pinuie three to four inches long. Pinnules about half- 
inch long and two lines broad, the upper ones short and confluent, 
membranous, glabrous or witli a few scaly hairs on the mid-rib, 
serrulate but not lobed. Sori in a double row near the mid-rib -and' 
distant from the margin. Indusium long-persistent, opening with 
a circular rather small and jagged mouth. Found on Mount 
Lindsey, Queensland. 
C. arachnoidea, Hook. . Trunk fifteen to twenty feet high. 
Rhachis dark colored, muricated with short black sharp spines and 
clothed with a close whitish or, ferruginous tomentum ; fronds tri- 
pinnate, firm coriaceous glabrous above cobwebby beneath. 
Secondary pinna? three .to five inches long. Pinnules or segments 
narrow, the lower ones four to six lines loiig and distinct, the upper 
ones smaller and confluent, the fertile portion with recurved creUu- 
lated margins. Veins sunk inconspicuous. Sori in a single row 
on each side of the costule but occupying nearly the whole breadth. 
Indusia persistent, white, globular, bursting irregularly at the 
apex. Found among the hills at Rockingham Bay, Queensland. 
O. Macarthurii, F. v. M. Trunk ten to twelve feet high, fre- 
quently bearing adventitious shoots on its sides. Fronds tripinnate 
the rhachis covered with a whitish woolly tomentum, which however 
m some specimens entirely disappears. Secondary pinn^ three to 
four inches long. Lower pinnules quite distinct though attached 
by a broad base, three to five lines long, minutely serrate-crenulate, 
the upper ones gradually smaller and confluent, the pinna ending 
m a long dentate point, Sori rather small, on the short lateral 
branches of scarcely prominent forked veinlets, forming a row cn 
each side of the costule. Indusium complete and globular when 
young, but soon breaking up, leaving a perfect ring under the sorus 
or more frequently entirely falling away. Foot of Mount Gower 
and Lidgebird, Lord Howe's Island, N. S. Wales. 
